Actor, writer, cook and author

Sardines on a sad sunny day

It’s a beautiful pre-summer day and there were some fresh looking sardines at Intermarché in Realmont.

A bit early to be thinking “summer lunches” but we need cheering up, so I bought three each–juicy ones–and butterflied them.

We had them baked with a simple fennel salad which cuts the richness of the sardines.

Butterscotch is still not well–in fact poor mite–she’s worse and so thin.

Butterscotch aka little Mother

She wants to eat and to go on as usual and doesn’t understand why she can’t.

She came out into the garden this morning while we did the exercise routine with our friend Flo and was “with us”–as cats often like to be.

Going over to Flo she did one of those wonderful cat “rolls” they do for you– “it’s a greeting” Meredith says.

She managed it and even did a return roll–that lifted our spirits.

She is twelve now and some systems seem to be failing her.

“On s’attache”–“you grow fond”–of your pets and it’s hard.

Here’s the recipe to cheer you up after reading this!!

For 2

6 firm and fresh sardines–butterflied (see below)

100gms/4 oz wholewheat breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon parsley–chopped

2 garlic cloves–chopped fine

1 tablespoon of capers–chopped

a pinch of dried oregano

3 tablespoons olive oil

salt and pepper

Heat the oven at 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4 if using.

Butterfly filleting is a bit of a business but rewarding.You’ll need achopping board and plenty of kitchen paper. Have a pair ofscissors to hand and a plate to receive the fillets. Make sure

there are no scales left on the fish, then with the head in your

lefthand and the body in your right, gently pull the head offand as much of the innards as possible from the tail end. Usethe scissors to snip along the belly, then with your leftthumbcoax out the rest of the innards. Place the fish, belly down, onthe board and press gently up and down the backbone withboth thumbs. Flatten the fish as much as you can with threefingers of both hands. Lift and snip off the small fin, then snipthe backbone at the tail end and, with the left hand, draw itcarefully away from the body, taking care not to take toomuch of the flesh with it. Voila! You have a butterfly fillet.

Wash and dry the fillets

Place a sheet of foil on a shallow baking tray

Using a brush if you have one it spread it with a tablespoon of oil.

Place the fillets on the tray.

In a bowl combine the breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic, capers, oregano and season with the salt and pepper.

Pour over a tablespoon of olive oil and mix it all together thoroughly.

Spoon the mixture evenly over the fillets.

Drizzle over the remaining olive oil adding a little extra if you feel it needs it.

before baking

Bake for 15 minutes.

and–after baking

I let them have a minute under a hot grill this morning to finish off.

Poor little mother, it’s so hard to see beloved pets in pain or unwell; what does the Vet say? My sister’s young cat Willow returned home a little while ago after having gone missing for 3 days. Sadly, she was dragging her back leg with the paw hanging off and this had become terribly infected so the Vet had to amputate her leg. It was awfully traumatic, for poor Willow and all the family, especially the children. Happily she has adapted brilliantly and is getting around amazingly well … except for her little 6 year old owner, Laurie, who thinks a name change to ‘Jake’ might be a good idea!! Best wishes for Butterscotch; really hope she starts to recover soon as it’s difficult to be happy when one of our pets is sick.

Hello Dear Robin,
Hope Butterscotch get’s better and have many years,nice to hear something of her.
When cats are Ill it needs time.Are the kidney’s ok, because in many cases that’s the weak point by cats
12 age is still not so old, my previous pussycat was almost 19 when she passed. I still miss my previous cats.I have one now of almost 7 her name is Puskepuske, time go’s so quickly.
Many regards from , Chantal(Antwerpen -Belgium).

dear all, hope your Butterscoych gets better.We have two cats left Lala & Poppy. Over the last 5 years we have lost four cats. starting with Scraggy, then our darling Jezabel, ending with the shock death of Tom. They alldied in my arms except poor scraggy who Ifound in his box.Although he was incontinant & looking like a hobo we adored him, especially Stan who was so distressed he couldntget back to work that day when I told him. I really hope your cat lives as long as possible . Bless your pusses. ypurs sincerely bev